Anyone reading this phrase for the first time “Born Again” might think, this is really strange! Why must I be born again? Well your reaction is quiet obvious, for even the first person whom Jesus told about this was a well learned religious leader, he knew the Scriptures and still he could not understand at first what exactly Jesus meant by being born again. At this Jesus explains him what does this means and this is recorded in the Gospel according to John.
So, don’t be puzzled by this, the easiest way to understand meaning of “Born Again” is to read what Jesus tells to Nicodemus. I mean this is in Jesus’ own words, so there cannot be any other place to look out for understanding the term “Born Again”. In my personal opinion it’s better to understand what Jesus meant by “Born again” rather than anyone telling his own theory. Keep in mind, accepting Jesus or recognizing Jesus as your Messiah or Personal Savior cannot be regarded as Second Birth, as most people think that way. Let us explore why and how one should be Born Again.
John 3:1-2
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Here we know who Nicodemus was, he was a religious leader of Jews and knew the Scriptures very well. In his heart he knew Jesus was sent from God. But, he arrives at night maybe because he was afraid to recognize Jesus as God’s only Son in the Public, for he was a Man of authority and in-charge of the Temple worship. With normal people Jesus always talked in Parables it was only with disciples in private that he told the meaning of what He said. Here Jesus sees that Nicodemus has rightly recognized Him. So, Jesus directly told him what is required of a Human to be saved and to enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Here we see Jesus is speaking about the necessary requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. I mean even Nicodemus being a religious leader wanted to enter the kingdom of God. But, his knowledge of scriptures did not help him understand what Jesus meant to say. His reply was just the same as is ours when we first hear about being Born Again.
John 3:4
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
We see that even though Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant but he had the willingness to be born again. So, he asks Jesus about the method to be born again. To which the Jesus explains clearly for him, as well as for us to know how to enter the Kingdom of God.
John 3:5-8
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of WATER and the SPIRIT. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
So here we see that Born Again is not the same as the Birth in Flesh which happened when we entered the Earth in flesh as Humans. It is similar but now we are taking birth into the kingdom of God. For no one on earth has seen the Kingdom of God, so no one can physically see Second Birth into the Kingdom of God. This is the reason why Jesus gives the example of Wind. Also we cannot enter the kingdom of God in flesh, for our first birth was in flesh and we all have to die, i.e. the death of the flesh. But Jesus says in second birth we are born of Spirit and our spirit shall be everlasting which will enter the kingdom of God. So, don’t confuse and think the eternal life could be a life in flesh. Spirit is more important than flesh.
Important thing is now we have a proper definition of being “Born Again”. See the two statements that Jesus had said to Nicodemus together.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of WATER and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Well you must have seen the two statements are same and we have can now know what Jesus meant by being born again. So the definition is like this.
BORN AGAIN means to born of WATER and SPIRIT.
So, clearly Born Again is not the same as most people think that it is when we recognize Jesus as Messiah in some Evangelical meeting is born again. In this passage Nicodemus also recognizes Jesus as the one send from God, clearly this is not born again as after this Jesus requires Nicodemus to be born again of water and spirit. For when you recognize Jesus as God and Personal Savior, that very moment the seed is sown into your hearts. No one knows whether you will reap fruit or soon you will refuse the truth and turn away from God. Like the parable of seed, your heart could be a stony land, or surrounded by thorny bush or a hard road or a good land which will bring forth good fruits. So, Born Again has to do with birth with WATER and SPIRIT. Let’s see what Jesus says further to Nicodemus.
John 3:9-15
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Now for Nicodemus still did not understand what Jesus was trying to say asked “How can these things be?” Now Jesus does not answer straightforward for He had already told the method. But says “Are you teacher of Israel and yet do not understand these things?” So, Jesus now says that the Scripture i.e. Bible has the answer and Jesus says we must believe in Him to have eternal life.
So, we know Bible has the answer to Birth with WATER and SPIRIT. If one reads the Bible carefully he will know that this second birth is a Two Step Birth. This is sequential birth, first born of Water and then born of Spirit. In today’s Church for this “Born Again” we have two rituals which are essentially represents second birth.
Born of Water – BAPTISM
Born of Spirit – CONFIRMATION
So, in-order to be Born Again of Water and Spirit, we must have Baptism followed by Confirmation. What exactly are these and how can one be Baptized or Confirmed are very important aspects of being a Christian. I will explain Baptism and Confirmation in two separate articles. So read them to understand how to be Born Again in Water and Spirit.